brisbanetimes.com.au sports editor

IF YOU thought the idea of whacking a full-scale T-Rex in the middle of a championship golf course was difficult to get your head around, try working out where the Australian PGA Championship is going to be held next year.

The future of the tournament in Coolum remains shrouded in confusion, with the PGA saying the event will be looking for a new home in 2013 and resort owner Clive Palmer singing an entirely different tune.

The billionaire mining magnate with a penchant for dinosaurs, cruise ships and vintage cars has declared the PGA will remain at his Palmer Coolum Resort for the foreseeable future, even if the golfing body has already said it will be played at another venue in 2013.

The venue has hosted the past 11 PGA Championships but this is shaping as the final fling as Palmer and the PGA could not come to terms for future events. Some of the sticking points include Palmer's reluctance to sponsor the event as well as provide the venue; the signage sprayed on the fairways; and the placement of ''Jeff'', an 8.5-metre dinosaur near the 10th tee.

Advertisement

PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn said on Tuesday the tournament would move next year, likely to the Gold Coast, but Palmer is nothing if not unpredictable. He said on Thursday night he wanted the event to stay, and there is a press conference scheduled for Saturday morning where he is expected to say the PGA's future remained at its current home. It is unclear whether his group has had any further discussions with PGA officials.

''I think the PGA will stay at Palmer Coolum Resort. I'm pretty confident there's not a better place in Australia to have the PGA,'' Palmer said on Thursday night.